Device and method for producing green energy

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an inexpensive and environmentally friendly system and method for producing energy utilizing a gravitation drip technique. A clean burning liquid fuel is dripped from an upper container into a lower container that houses a heat-absorbing substrate. A combustion reaction is initiated between the fuel and the heat absorbing substrate to produce a continuous flame. Thermal energy from the flame and the combustion process is retained by the heat-absorbing substrate. The thermal energy from the flame and/or heat-absorbing substrate can be harvested to convert water into steam. This steam energy can be harnessed to generate mechanical energy and produce electricity.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/430,685, filed Jan. 7, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and devices for producing, harvesting and harnessing clean-burning, renewable energy utilizing a gravitational drip technique.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional energy sources such as wood, and fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas, are ever costly, polluting and often non-renewable. Such energy sources contribute to climate change by distressing the natural ecological system through greenhouse gas emissions and mass de-forestation. This escalating global climate change has devastating effects for both human health (increases in infectious, neglected and water-borne diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, kala-azar, intestinal worms and malaria) and human habitats (changing patterns resulting in increased incidences of extreme weather including floods, drought, cyclones, and erratic rainfall). Consequently, it is imperative that the inhabitants of planet earth decrease the dependency on existing energy sources and create new, clean and innovative methods of producing, harvesting and harnessing energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inexpensive, environmentally friendly (“green”), system and method for producing clean burning, renewable energy, referred to herein as the Green Drip Energy (“GDE”) system. GDE system functions by gravitationally dripping small amounts of a clean burning fuel from an upper container into a lower container which houses a heat-retaining substrate or material. Combustion takes place in the lower container to produce a flame, and the heat from the flame and/or retained heat from the combustion process can be harvested/harnessed to generate electricity, heat buildings and homes, as a source of heat for cooking food, and in various industrial manufacturing processes.

More specifically, the invention provides a system for producing thermal energy. The system includes a first container having a capped/covered opening at the top of the container and an opening at the bottom of the container is fitted with a valve and/or a nozzle. The system further includes a second container positioned below the first container. The second container includes a top portion, a base portion and at least one sidewall. The top of the second container is at least partially open or uncovered. A liquid biofuel is contained in said first container, whereas a heat-absorbing substrate is contained in the second container. The liquid biofuel can be a bioalcohol (e.g., bioethanol, biopropanol or biobutanol), a biodiesel, a green diesel or a vegetable oil. In a particular embodiment, the liquid biofuel is bioethanol. The heat-absorbing substrate is made of silica, silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof.

The upper container is preferably made of a material that is compatible for use with a liquid biofuel, such as a plastic, a metal or a plastic coated metal. The lower container is likewise made of a material that is compatible for use with a liquid biofuel and should be able to withstand high temperatures (e.g., at least 100 degrees Celsius or greater). Such materials include, without limitation, metals and metal alloys, such as aluminum, copper or steel.

The system further includes an ignition source (e.g., a spark-plug) coupled to the second container for initiating a combustion reaction between the fuel and the heat-absorbing substrate in the second container.

The first container can be positioned above the second container on a supportive rack or hanger. Alternatively, the first container can be positioned above the second container utilizing an existing shelf or ledge within the space in which the system is being installed.

A channel, tube or tubing having a proximal and a distal end can be coupled to the opening in the bottom of the upper container, such that fuel drips through the bottom opening into the proximal end of the channel/tube/tubing and drips out of the distal end of the channel/tube/tubing. The distal end of the channel/tube/tubing can be fitted with a nozzle and/or valve to regulate the size and/or drip rate of the liquid biofuel.

The system can further include a tubing system for circulating water. The tubing system has an inlet end for flowing water into the tubing system and an outlet end through which water, or a form of water, exits the tubing system. The tubing system is at least partially disposed within the second container, either above or at least partially within the heat-absorbing substrate. Preferably, the tubing system is made of a material that is thermally conductive and capable of sustaining high temperatures (e.g., at least 100 degrees Celsius or greater). For example, the tubing system can be made of a metal or a metal alloy such as aluminum, copper or steel. The tubing system can have a helical or a serpentine-like configuration to maximize volume flow and surface area exposure to thermal energy to be generated within the second container.

The inlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a cold water source, while the outlet end is coupled to a heating system such as a steam radiator system, or an energy producing system such as a steam turbine. The steam turbine is coupled to a power generator which is configured to utilize the mechanical energy produced by the steam turbine to produce an electric current.

The invention further provides a gravitational drip method for producing thermal energy by providing a first container that contains a liquid biofuel, providing a second container that contains a heat-absorbing substrate, dripping the liquid biofuel from the first container into the heat-absorbing substrate in the second container by gravitational force, and initiating a combustion reaction between said biofuel and said heat-absorbing substrate. The combustion reaction produces a flame and thermal energy. The thermal energy produced by the reaction and/or flame is retained within the heat-absorbing substrate. The flame is maintained by the intermittent drops of liquid fuel, yielding a continuous combustion reaction within the second container. The thermal energy produced by the flame and/or the continuous combustion process is retained by the heat-absorbing material, which in turn is insulated by the second container such that interior of the second container achieves a temperature of at least 100 degrees Celsius or greater.

The liquid fuel is preferably a biofuel such as a bioalcohol (e.g., bioethanol, biobutanol, or biopropanol), biodiesel, green diesel or a vegetable oil. The heat-absorbing substrate includes silica, silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof.

The method can further include the step of disposing a tubing system for circulating water, at least partially within the second container (e.g., above or partially disposed within the heat-absorbing substrate). The tubing system can include a helical or a serpentine configuration to maximize the volume circulated through the tubing system and the surface area exposed to the thermal energy produced by the combustion reaction within the second container.

The tubing system includes an inlet end which is coupled to a cold water source. Water is flowed into the tubing system from the cold water source. As the water is circulated through the tubing system, it is heated by the flame and/or thermal energy retained within the second container at a temperature sufficient to convert the water into steam (e.g., 100 degrees Celsius or more), such that the cold water that flows into inlet end of the tubing system exits an outlet end of the tubing system in the form of steam.

The steam produced by the system of the invention can be harvested to heat buildings and homes. For example outlet of the tubing system can be coupled to a heating system such as a steam radiator system. The steam produced by the system of the invention can also be harvested/harnessed to produce electricity. For example, the steam that exits the outlet end of the tubing system can be coupled to a turbine for generating mechanical energy. The turbine can be coupled to a power generator to produce an electric current. The power generator can be coupled to a power system, where transformers can be used to convert the electric current into a suitable form for distribution into local towns, cities or municipalities.

The invention further provides a gravitational drip method for producing electricity. A first container that contains a liquid biofuel, a second container that contains a heat-absorbing substrate, and a tubing system for circulating cold water are provided. The tubing system is at least partially disposed within the second container in or above the heat-absorbing substrate. The first container is positioned above the second container (e.g., on a supportive rack or hanger). The liquid biofuel is dripped from the first container into the heat-absorbing substrate in said second container by gravitational force. The liquid fuel is preferably a biofuel such as a bioalcohol (e.g., bioethanol, biobutanol, or biopropanol), biodiesel, green diesel or a vegetable oil. The heat-absorbing substrate includes silica, silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof.

A combustion reaction is initiated between the fuel and the heat-absorbing substrate to produce a flame and thermal energy from the flame and/or combustion reaction is retained within heat-absorbing substrate. Cold water is flowed into the tubing system and is heated by the flame and/or thermal energy retained within the second container to a temperature sufficient to convert the water into steam (e.g., 100 degrees Celsius or greater). The steam exits the tubing system through an outlet end of the tubing system, which is coupled to a steam turbine for producing mechanical energy. The turbine is used to power a power generator that is configured for producing an electric current.

The methods of the invention will enable a significant reduction of the worldwide dependency on fossil fuels and/or nuclear power. More importantly, the present invention has the potential to lead to a new green revolution and preservation era, contributing primarily to poverty reduction, particularly in remote and marginalized localities where fuel is scarce and expensive. The methods and devices of the invention can help protect the planet's environment and improve the health and socio-economic well being of vulnerable populations in a self-sustainable, low-cost, holistic, environmentally and durable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. Note that the illustrations in the figures are representative only, and are not drawn to scale, the emphasis having instead been generally placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention and the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting the general concept of the Green Drip Energy system according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematics depicting exemplary tube configurations for channeling droplets of liquid fuel from an upper container to a lower container for use with the Green Drip Energy system of the invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C are schematics depicting exemplary water tube configurations for use with a water boiler embodiment of the Green Drip Energy system of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic depicting a water boiler embodiment of the GDE system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Green Drip Energy (“GDE”) system (FIG. 1) is a relatively simple, inexpensive system that functions by gravitationally dripping small volumes of a clean burning liquid fuel 29 from an upper container 11 into a lower container 12 which houses a heat-retaining substrate or material 13. Combustion takes place in the lower container 12, producing a continuous flame 14, and heat from the flame 14 and/or the chemical/thermal energy retained in the heat-retaining substrate or material 13 can be harvested and harnessed.

The upper is a closed container for housing a clean burning liquid fuel 29. The upper container 11 has an inlet orifice 19, located at the top or on the side of the container 11. The inlet orifice 19 has a removable cap/cover to facilitate re-filling of the liquid fuel 29 as necessary. The upper container further includes an outlet orifice 17 located at the bottom of the container 11, through which liquid fuel drips 29 drip from the container 11 by gravitational force to produce droplets 20. The size of the droplets 20 and/or rate of dripping from the outlet orifice 17 can be regulated, e.g., using a nozzle 18 a and/or a regulator or valve 18 b. The upper container 11 can be any size or shape, and preferably has a volume suitable for holding one or more gallons of liquid fuel 29. The upper container 11 is made from a material that is compatible for use with the desired fuel to be used in the GDE system. For example, the upper container 11 can be made from a plastic, a metal (e.g., steel), or a plastic-coated metal.

The upper container 11 can be supported above the lower container 12 on a support rack or supportive hanger 15. Alternatively, the upper container 11 can be supported above the lower container 12 on an existing shelf or ledge in the space in which the GDE system is being installed.

The clean burning liquid fuel 29 is a preferably a liquid biofuel (i.e. produced from sugar, starch and/or vegetable oil). Examples of suitable liquid biofuels include but are not limited to bioalcohols such as bioethanol, biobutanol or biopropanol (i.e., alcohols produced through the fermentation of sugars or starches, or cellulose, using microorganisms and enzymes), biodiesel (derived from vegetable oil- or animal fat using transesterification, consisting of long-chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters), green diesel (derived from renewable feedstock rather than the fossil feedstock using biomass to liquid or vegetable oil refining technologies (traditional fractional distillation)), vegetable oil, or any combination thereof. Benzene, gasoline, or other natural gas can also be used.

A channel, tube or tubing material 16 can be coupled at its proximal end to the opening 17 at the bottom of the upper container 11 such that liquid fuel 29 drips from the upper container 11 into the tube/tubing 16, and subsequently into the bottom container 12 where combustion takes place. The distal end of the channel, tube or tubing 16 can be fitted with a nozzle 18 a and/or a regulator or valve 18 b to control the size of the drops and/or rate of dripping from the tube/tubing 16. The tube/tubing 16 can be any length and/or configuration. Exemplary tube/tubing configurations are shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. The use of a tube/tubing enables flexibility in the design of the GDE system. As such, the GDE system can be custom fitted into spaces of various sizes and shapes.

The lower container 12 is an open container having a bottom base and sidewalls, and can be any size, shape or volume. The top of the lower container 12 should be at least partially open to receive the drops of liquid fuel from the upper container 11. The lower container 12 can be made of any material that is compatible for use with the desired fuel to be used in the GDE system. The material should also be able to withstand and retain high heat. Preferably, the lower container 12 is made of a metal or metal alloy such as aluminum, copper, steel, or other material capable of sustaining heat at high temperatures. An ignition source (e.g., a spark plug) is operatively coupled to the lower container for initiating a combustion reaction within the lower container 12.

The lower container 12 houses a material 13 having high heat absorption and low water absorption properties, such as silica, silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof. For example, the lower container can contain sand (e.g., a mix of basalt, gypsum, silica or silicon dioxide in the form of quartz and eroded limestone), salt (sodium chloride), or a mixture thereof.

Regulating the amount and frequency at which the droplets 20 of the liquid fuel 29 is supplied to the flame 14 and sand and/or salt mix 13 allows for a prolonged combustion reaction (strong and clean flame) using smaller amounts of renewable fuel. The sand and/or salt mix 13 in the lower container 12 functions to facilitate, actively participate in, and enhance the chemical combustion, similar to a chemical reaction propelled by an enzymatic substrate infrastructure. The lower container 12 serves as a strong protective recipient and works synergistically with the sand and/or salt mix 13 to facilitate combustion and enhance the duration of the flame 14 while the chemical reactions between the sand and/or salt 13 and the ignited fuel takes place. The maintenance of the flame 14 takes place immediately when the droplets of fuel 20 land in the lower container 12 with sand and/or salt 13. The lower container 12 essentially functions as a furnace. The fire 14 and combustion becomes stronger and stronger once all the sand and/or salt are wet with the fuel droplets 20. From that point in time, the burning fire is sustained indefinitely, with minimal fuel input. The result is a clean, strong and sustained fire 14 and high thermal retention from the combustion process within the sand/salt mixture 13 in the lower container 12.

The sand and/or salt mix 13 does not suffer any physical or chemical degradation, or transformation of its particles and composition whatsoever (e.g., texture, odor, or change of color), and its original distinctive physical and chemical features will return to their normal geological and geophysical state at room temperature after some minutes. Furthermore, the sand and/or salt mix 13 can be repeatedly used for the same purpose.

Due to this gravitational dripping technique, the amount of liquid fuel 29 needed to generate vast amounts of energy becomes negligible. Thus, the GDE system can yield vast amounts of energy with lesser amounts of liquid fuel.

The GDE system can be used as a more environmentally friendly substitute/replacement for coal, oil or for nuclear power, and thus can be used for everything that coal-fired, oil-fired or nuclear power plants are used for. In particular, the chemical/thermal energy produced by the GDE system can serve as a water boiler/heater to produce steam. The fire 14 (heat and power) produced by the GDE system can be used to heat water to produce steam. Alternatively, the thermal energy from the combustion process retained by the lower container 12 of the GDE system can be harnessed and used to heat water and produce steam. The steam can be transformed into mechanical energy, which can be used to generate electricity by injecting the steam into a turbine which in turn can be used to spin an electric generator to produce electric power.

In a water boiler embodiment of a GDE system, a tubing system 21 for circulating water is disposed within the lower container 12 of the GDE system. The lower container may optionally be at least partially disposed within an insulating material 22 that can be detached and/or replaced upon several uses. The water tubing system 21 can be disposed above the sand and/or salt mix 13 within the lower container 12, or at least partially disposed within the sand and/or salt mix 13. The water tubing system 21 is made of any thermally conductive material capable of sustaining/retaining high temperatures, such as aluminum, copper, or steel. The water tubing system 21 can be in any configuration, and is preferably in a helical, or serpentine configuration to maximize the volume of circulating water and the surface area exposed to the thermal energy. Exemplary configurations of the water tubing system 21 are depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, cold water flows into the tubing system 21 in the direction of arrow A. The cold water circulated through the tubing system is heated by flame 14 and/or chemical/thermal energy retained by the sand and/or salt mix 13, such that hot water in the form of steam exits the tubing system in the direction of arrow B.

An exemplary configuration of a water boiler embodiment of GDE system of the invention is depicted in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, a lower container 12 (preferably made of a heat sustaining material such as aluminum, copper or steel) houses a mixture of sand and/or salt 13. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, a partition 23 is disposed above the sand and/or salt mixture 13 within the lower container 12. This partition 23 can be removed and/or replaced in a portable manner. The lower container 12 is at least partially enclosed within an insulating material 22. An upper container 11 (not shown) containing liquid biofuel, such as bioethanol, is positioned above the lower container 12. Liquid biofuel (i.e., chemical energy) drips from the upper container 11 into a tube 16 having a nozzled end 18 a and a drip regulator (e.g., valve) 18 b, such that regulated droplets 20 of the liquid biofuel drip into the lower container 12 by gravitational force to wet the sand and/or salt mixture 13. The wet sand and/or salt mixture 13 acts as a substrate to facilitate a combustion reaction to produce a continuous, clean burning flame 14 (not shown). The sand and/or salt mixture 13 and the lower container work synergistically to retain the chemical/thermal energy produced from the combustion process.

A helical tubing system for circulating water 21 is at least partially disposed within the sand and/or salt mixture 13 within the lower container 12.

Cold water enters the tubing system (arrow A) and is circulated to through the tubing system 21. As the water is circulated, it is heated by flame 14 and/or chemical/thermal energy retained by the sand and/or salt mix 13, such that hot water in the form of steam exits the tubing system in the direction of arrow B.

The boiler configuration depicted in FIG. 4 is only one configuration that can be used with the GDE system of the invention. The GDE system can be integrated with or retrofitted into any water heater design, such as the furnaces, heaters and/or boilers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,642,539, 1,859,858, 1,931,639, 1,964,256, 2,114,224, 2,254,373, 2,305,611, 2,519,820, 2,757,649, 2,778,610, 2896,591, 2,940,734, 2,291,023, 2,477,950, 2,536,072, 2,757,649, 2,856,905, 2,896,591, 3,030,937, 3,376,859, 3,454,383, 3,401,673, 3,687,128, 3,868,927, 3,910,255, and 4,522,154, the contents of which are each incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The steam produced by the GDE water boiler system described herein can be used to heat buildings and homes (e.g., in a steam radiator heater system), especially for countries in the north during cold winters. Alternatively, the GDE water boiler described herein can be used to generate electricity. For example, the GDE water boiler can be operatively coupled to a steam turbine 24 to generate mechanical energy. The steam turbine can be coupled to a generator 25 to produce electric power, which can be stored in an electric power station 26. A transformer 27 can be used to convert the electric power into a voltage suitable for transmission to power buildings, and homes 28 in local cities, towns or municipalities.

By harvesting and harnessing the chemical/thermal energy produced by the GDE system, as described above, the GDE system can be used as a source of heat and power in the production of iron, steel, bricks and cement, glass and pottery. It can equally be used for energy transportation needs.

Moreover, since polluted fumes produced from traditional non-renewable sources of energy kill approximately 2 million people per year according to the World Health Organization and being ranked among the five greatest killers especially in poor countries, one clear emerging benefit will be for cooking purpose. The heat and fire generated by the GDE system can function like a cooking stove, and can be used to cook literally all types of food in an environmentally friendly and cheap manner everywhere in the world.

The invention having now been described by way of written description, those of skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced in a variety of embodiments and that the foregoing description and examples below are for purposes of illustration and not limitation of the claims that follow. 

1. A system for producing thermal energy, comprising: a first container having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion comprising a removably covered opening and the bottom portion comprising a regulatable opening; a second container positioned below the first container, the second container comprising a top portion, a base portion and at least one sidewall, the top portion being at least partially uncovered; a liquid biofuel contained in the first container; and a heat-absorbing substrate contained in the second container.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ignition source coupled to the second container for initiating a combustion reaction in the second container.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the biofuel is a bioalcohol.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat-absorbing substrate comprises one selected from the list consisting of silica, silicon dioxide, and sodium chloride.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first container is positioned above the second container on a support.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tube comprising a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the regulatable opening of the upper container.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the distal end of the tube includes a valve.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower container comprises a metal.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tubing system at least partially disposed within the second container and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. 13-15. (canceled)
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the inlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a cold water source.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the outlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a steam radiator system. 17-19. (canceled)
 20. A gravitational drip method for producing thermal energy, the method comprising: providing a first container comprising a liquid fuel; providing a second container comprising a heat-absorbing substrate; dripping the liquid fuel from said first container into the heat-absorbing substrate in the second container by gravitational force; and initiating a combustion reaction of the liquid fuel.
 21. (canceled)
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the liquid fuel is a biofuel selected from the group consisting of a bioalcohol, a biodiesel, a green diesel or a vegetable oil.
 23. (canceled)
 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the heat-absorbing substrate is comprised of silica, silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, or a combination thereof.
 26. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a tubing system for circulating water, the tubing system comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, and disposing at least a portion of the tubing system in or above the second container.
 27. (canceled)
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the inlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a cold water source.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of flowing cold water into the tubing system and converting the cold water into steam. 31-32. (canceled)
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the outlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a steam radiator system.
 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the outlet end of the tubing system is coupled to a steam turbine.
 35. (canceled)
 37. A gravitational drip method for producing electricity, the method comprising: providing a first container comprising a liquid fuel; providing a second container comprising a heat-absorbing substrate; providing a tubing system for circulating cold water, the tubing system being at least partially disposed above the heat-absorbing substrate in the second container; dripping the liquid fuel from said first container into the heat-absorbing substrate in the second container by gravitational force; initiating a combustion reaction to combust the liquid fuel and produce thermal energy that is retained within heat-absorbing substrate; flowing cold water into the tubing system; converting the water into steam using the thermal energy retained by the heat-absorbing substrate; providing the steam to a steam turbine for producing mechanical energy; providing the mechanical energy to a power generator; and producing an electric current. 38-40. (canceled) 